Savage escapes with warning over agent breach

Robbie Savage has escaped with a warning as to his future conduct for his part in breaches of agents' regulations.

Savage's apology for not having a written agreement with his agent, George Urquhart, and dealing on a handshake went a long way to avoiding a fine; although Urquhart was fined £500 and warned to his future conduct, as the FA clearly viewed the breaches as little more than technicalities.

Graham Bean, the FA's former Compliance Officer, defended Savage and his agent and was convinced that the punishment, if any, would be minor.

The FA statement read: "At a Regulatory Commission hearing today, football agent George Urquhart was fined £500 and warned as to his future conduct for breaching FA Agents' Regulations. Derby County midfielder Robbie Savage was also warned as to his future conduct.

"Urquhart admitted a charge in relation to Savage's move to Derby County in January 2008. Urquhart acted for Derby in that move when he had acted for Robbie Savage in the renegotiation of the player's contract with Blackburn Rovers in January 2007, contrary to regulations.

"Urquhart and Savage both admitted charges relating to the renegotiation of the player's contract with Blackburn in January 2007 in that there was no written representation contract in place between the player and the agent when this renegotiation took place.

"In reaching its decision, the Commission took into consideration Urquhart's immediate admission of the charge, apology and previous exemplary disciplinary record. In the case of Savage, the Commission considered his immediate admission of the charge, apology and previous record in this regard."